SB Hot List: 12 Team-Approved FINDS for a Breezy Summer
Beating the Southern heat requires smart strategy and delightful little comforts. We’ve rounded up some SB team-approved summer essentials, featuring chic athletic wear, nostalgia-infused footwear, and backyard-ready FINDS.
Beating the Southern summer heat requires a mix of smart strategy and delightful little comforts. The StyleBlueprint team gathered the summer essentials we rely on to keep us cool, comfortable, and inspired this season. Check out this SB-approved Hot List to find your next favorite backyard addition or poolside read for a beautiful and breezy summer ahead.
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Unbreakable Claw Clip
“I reach for claw clips all year round, but especially when it’s hot out. These large clips from Teleties are super durable and great for securing thick, heavy hair — and their smaller-sized clips are great for short or fine hair. They have dozens of colors, but I’m loving the tortoise design lately.” — Alissa Harb, Managing Editor
Mary Jane Jelly Flats
“As an ’80s kid, I can’t resist a good jelly sandal. This updated version from Sam Edelman is a grown-up take on the colorful shoes I practically lived in every summer. They’re nostalgic, a little more polished, but just as fun. These are my go-to shoes for getting through the Memphis heat this summer.” — Rachel Mullen, Memphis Market Leader
VENTY Portable Fan
“I first discovered this fan through an influencer, and I can now fully vouch: It’s the fan to end all fans this summer. It’s surprisingly powerful for its size and actually cools, whether you use it on a tabletop or extend it to the floor with its telescopic stand. It’s also super packable and has already traveled with me twice: a total lifesaver in those hotel rooms that run just a little too stuffy!” — Anne Marie Hanna, Contributing Writer
Jenni Kayne Hastings Skirt
“This is my new favorite skirt. It works equally well for work, paired with a knit, and wandering farmers’ markets, paired with a tank top and flip-flops. It packs well, and when I spilled my coffee down the front of it, it dried, you almost couldn’t see it, and it washed out! Hopefully it goes on sale soon!” — Liza Graves, CEO & Founder
Newly Discovered Tea Flavors
“I can’t drink coffee, and there is nothing more comforting than a warm cup of tea (Yes, even in the summer!). For later in the day when decaf is necessary, I love PG Tips Decaf. It’s a decaf tea that doesn’t taste like cardboard. And for REALLY good chai that is not too heavy or too sweet, I love The Horn’s Somali Chai. Plus, they ship anywhere in the U.S. if you can’t get to one of their Nashville locations!” — Sarah Finklea, Sales Operations Manager
Athletic Dress
“I’ve officially joined the athletic dress bandwagon, and I’m never looking back. This Target option has quickly become my summer uniform. It’s my go-to for neighborhood walks, quick errands, and everything in between, and I feel instantly put-together. Not to mention I don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort, thanks to its breathable fabric, chic twist-front detailing, and yes, even pockets!” — Brianna Goebel, Associate Editor & Sponsored Content Manager
Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick
“Clinique’s Nude Honey Almost Lipstick has quickly become one of my go-to products this summer. As someone who doesn’t wear much makeup, it adds the perfect touch of color while feeling incredibly hydrating. It’s also buildable, so you can keep it sheer or layer it for a little more color.” — Madison Huskey, Content Operations Manager
Acacia Wood Bistro Set
“I recently ordered this cute little bistro set for my backyard, and it is SO MUCH nicer than I thought it would be. I got the green color — super cute!” — Bailey Torkelson, Market Leader Liaison
Dyson Air Purifier
“In this heat, I can’t live without my Dyson air purifier. Not only does it suck the humidity out of the room (a must during a Southern summer), but it also has a cooling setting with an oscillating fan. We keep it on at night to make sleeping extra comfy.” — Alison Hudak, Social Media Manager
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
“A hot-weather essential for me is a great book to read by the pool, and The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett has earned a top spot in my bag right next to my sunscreen and towel. I, like millions of others, was a fan of Kathryn’s first book, The Help, but then she went radio silent for almost two decades. Now that she’s back, I assure you it was worth the wait. Like The Help, The Calamity Club is set in Mississippi and features strong Southern women.
I don’t want to give anything away, but it follows the lives of an orphan, a married socialite, and her single sister. It’s a 656-page story of friendship and the choices that bind these women together. Set against the Great Depression, it explores the grit, strength, power, and resilience of women on a mission to change their lives.” — Bonny Osterhage, Associate Editor & Sponsored Content Specialist
Battery-Powered “Jobsite” Fan
“This is a new find for our family, but it’s quickly becoming an essential. You can use an [18-volt] battery from a drill or other power tool with it to get hours of great air anywhere. We are packing ours for the beach, and we recently used it during our daughter’s birthday party as a way for folks to keep cool outside — an essential for Southern summers! You can purchase it online, or Little Hardware in Birmingham can order one for you!” — Erin Wilson, Birmingham Market Leader
Ice Cream Queen by Lokelani Alabanza
“If summer had a cookbook, this is it. Lokelani Alabanza — Nashville-based pastry chef, founder of small-batch ice cream company Saturated, and one of my all-around favorite humans — recently released Ice Cream Queen, which celebrates the history and simple joy of ice cream. It features 100 beautiful recipes, from classic scoops to inventive flavors and non-dairy treats. And I can personally attest that Loke makes some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted!
The photography is gorgeous, and woven throughout is a celebration of Black history, creativity, and entrepreneurship, including a tribute to Nashville’s own Sarah Estell, a free Black entrepreneur who ran a successful ice cream saloon in the 1840s and became known as the city’s original ‘Ice Cream Queen.’ This book is my excuse to spend the rest of the summer with a scoop in one hand and this book in the other.” — Jenna von Oy Bratcher, Editorial Operations Manager & Lead Content Editor
Here’s to staying cool this summer!
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Brianna Goebel
Brianna is StyleBlueprint’s Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.